Analysis of transmission line modeling routines by using offsets measured least squares regression ant lion optimizer in ORPD and ELD problems.

This paper proposed an offset measured least regression based ALO to solve ORPD and ELD problems of IEEE 57 bus system designed with different transmission line models. These two problems are highly non-linear and non-convex defiance optimization of problem. The solution of ALO depends on exploration and exploitation if the difference between local and global variables is large, therefore chance to miss the best optimal solution. The weighted elitism phase of the algorithm gives diversified results because exploration is more biased toward elite particles. Which is due to decreasing of random walk to achieve the convergence characteristics. The proposed LSR-EALO can balance both exploration and exploitation, which improves the solution of optimization problem. Simulation is performed with proposed method on different IEEE 57 bus power system models, such as the positive sequence, 3-Phase PI, and distributed CP transmission lines based power systems, and lumped PI lines based low voltage hardware model (LVHM). In this paper, the ORPD problem was used to describe control variables like generator voltage, tap changers of transformers, and switching of capacitor banks subjected to power loss minimization function. Also, described voltage deviation and voltage stability index. Similarly, the ELD was described the active power allocation among generators to meet the sum of load demand and losses in the systems at minimum fuel cost function. And in depth analysis of the optimization results shows accuracy of control variables in ORPD and ELD problems. Also, the effectiveness of proposed method was also verified by comparing results with other meta heuristic algorithms.

Pest scenario of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) on groundnut under representative concentration pathways (RCPs) based climate change scenarios.

Multi-model ensemble of Maximum (Tmax) and Minimum (Tmin) temperature data of four Representative Concentration Pathways viz., RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0 and RCP 8.5 of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) models were generated for ten major groundnut growing locations of the India to predict the number of generations of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) using Growing Degree Days approach during three future climate viz., Near (NF), Distant (DF) and Very Distant (VDF) periods and were compared over 1976-2005 baseline period (BL). Projections indicate significant increase in Tmax (0.7-4.7 °C) and Tmin (0.7-5.1 °C) in NF, DF and VDF periods under the four RCP scenarios at the ten groundnut growing locations. Higher percent increase of the number of generations of S. litura was predicted to occur in VDF (6-38%) over baseline, followed by DF (5-22%) and NF (4-9%) periods with reduction of generation time (5-26%) across the four RCP scenarios. Reduction of crop duration was higher (12-22 days) in long duration groundnut than in medium and short duration groundnut. Decrease in crop duration was higher in VDF (12.1-20.8 days) than DF (8.26-13.15 days) and NF (4.46-6.15 days) climate change periods under RCP 8.5 scenario. Increase in number of generations of S. litura was predicted even with altered crop duration of groundnut. Among locations, more number of generations of S. litura with reduced generation time are likely at Vridhachalam and Tirupathi locations. Geographical location (74-77%) and climate period (15-19%), together explained over 90 percent of the total variation in the number of generations and generation time of S. litura. These findings suggest that the incidence of S. litura on groundnut could be higher in future.

Spatial and temporal estimation of soil loss for the sustainable management of a wet semi-arid watershed cluster.

The ungauged wet semi-arid watershed cluster, Seethagondi, lies in the Adilabad district of Telangana in India and is prone to severe erosion and water scarcity. The runoff and soil loss data at watershed, catchment, and field level are necessary for planning soil and water conservation interventions. In this study, an attempt was made to develop a spatial soil loss estimation model for Seethagondi cluster using RUSLE coupled with ARCGIS and was used to estimate the soil loss spatially and temporally. The daily rainfall data of Aphrodite for the period from 1951 to 2007 was used, and the annual rainfall varied from 508 to 1351 mm with a mean annual rainfall of 950 mm and a mean erosivity of 6789 MJ mm ha(-1) h(-1) year(-1). Considerable variation in land use land cover especially in crop land and fallow land was observed during normal and drought years, and corresponding variation in the erosivity, C factor, and soil loss was also noted. The mean value of C factor derived from NDVI for crop land was 0.42 and 0.22 in normal year and drought years, respectively. The topography is undulating and major portion of the cluster has slope less than 10°, and 85.3% of the cluster has soil loss below 20 t ha(-1) year(-1). The soil loss from crop land varied from 2.9 to 3.6 t ha(-1) year(-1) in low rainfall years to 31.8 to 34.7 t ha(-1) year(-1) in high rainfall years with a mean annual soil loss of 12.2 t ha(-1) year(-1). The soil loss from crop land was higher in the month of August with an annual soil loss of 13.1 and 2.9 t ha(-1) year(-1) in normal and drought year, respectively. Based on the soil loss in a normal year, the interventions recommended for 85.3% of area of the watershed includes agronomic measures such as contour cultivation, graded bunds, strip cropping, mixed cropping, crop rotations, mulching, summer plowing, vegetative bunds, agri-horticultural system, and management practices such as broad bed furrow, raised sunken beds, and harvesting available water using farm ponds and percolation tanks. This methodology can be adopted for estimating the soil loss from similar ungauged watersheds with deficient data and for planning suitable soil and water conservation interventions for the sustainable management of the watersheds.

Spatial and temporal estimation of runoff in a semi-arid microwatershed of Southern India.

In a semi-arid microwatershed of Warangal district in Southern India, daily runoff was estimated spatially using Soil Conservation Service (SCS)-curve number (CN) method coupled with GIS. The groundwater status in this region is over-exploited, and precise estimation of runoff is very essential to plan interventions for this ungauged microwatershed. Rainfall is the most important factor governing runoff, and 75.8% of the daily rainfall and 92.1% of the rainy days which occurred were below 25 mm/day. The declines in rainfall and rainy days observed in recent years were 9.8 and 8.4%, respectively. The surface runoff estimated from crop land for a period of 57 years varied from 0 to 365 mm with a mean annual runoff of 103.7 mm or 14.1% of the mean annual rainfall. The mean annual runoff showed a significant reduction from 108.7 to 82.9 mm in recent years. The decadal variation of annual runoff from crop land over the years varied from 49.2 to 89.0% which showed the caution needed while planning watershed management works in this microwatershed. Among the four land use land cover conditions prevailing in the area, the higher runoff (20% of the mean annual rainfall) was observed from current fallow in clayey soil and lower runoff of 8.7% from crop land in loamy soil due to the increased canopy coverage. The drought years which occurred during recent years (1991-2007) in crop land have increased by 3.5%, normal years have increased by 15.6%, and the above normal years have decreased by 19.1%. This methodology can be adopted for estimating the runoff potential from similar ungauged watersheds with deficient data. It is concluded that in order to ensure long-term and sustainable groundwater utilization in the region, proper estimation of runoff and implementation of suitable water harvesting measures are the need of the hour.

Efficacy of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy, using 'cold steel' instruments without stenting, in treatment of distal nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of an endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy technique using conventional instruments, without the use of any adjunctive techniques. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, non-randomised, cohort study. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with nasolacrimal duct obstruction between January 2006 and December 2008 were included in the study. Seventy-eight endonasal dacryocystorhinostomies (primary or revision) were performed with conventional 'cold steel' instruments. The technique involved complete exposure and marsupialisation of the lacrimal sac. No adjunctive procedures were used. Success was defined as complete resolution of epiphora and a patent lacrimal system, evaluated by lacrimal irrigation and endoscopy, one year post-operatively. RESULTS: Seventy-four of the 78 cases were symptom-free after a minimum follow up of 12 months, giving an overall success rate of 94.9 per cent. The success rates for primary and revision cases were 95.5 and 90.9 per cent, respectively. CONCLUSION: Meticulous surgical technique can ensure high success rates with the use of conventional cold steel instruments, without the use of adjunctive procedures, making endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy a cost-effective, reliable procedure.

Olfactory neuroblastoma metastatic to the breast.

Olfactory neuroblastoma (Esthesioneuroblastoma) is a rare malignant tumour arising from olfactory epithelium. It has a predilection for cervical lymph node metastasis and also has potential for distant metastasis to unusual sites like scalp, face, aorta, spleen, liver, adrenal gland and ovary. We report here a rare case of olfactory neuroblastoma in an adolescent girl with metastatic deposits in the breast. A poor prognosis due to rapidly progressive disseminated disease was observed. The relevant literature regarding metastatic olfactory neuroblastoma and metastasis in the breast from non-mammary malignant neoplasms is reviewed.

Mature teratoma of the nasal vestibule: a case report.

Teratomas are rare congenital neoplasms that arise from pluripotent cells. They consist of tissue from all three embryonic germ layers. According to most studies, teratomas of the head and neck account for only 2 to 9% of all cases. In this article, we report the first case of a teratoma of the nasal vestibule in a newborn. We also discuss methods of diagnosis and treatment of upper airway teratomas, and we include a brief review of the literature.

Tonsillar lymphangiomatous polyp - a case report.

Tumors which are benign in origin in palatine tonsils are not uncommon. They may create anxiety in patients and pose difficulty in differentiating from malignancy. We report a case of tonsillar polyp of lymphangiomatous origin.